IN a move to strengthen food security efforts in the region, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is exploring collaboration for a sustainable agriculture framework with the ASEAN Food Security Alliance (AFSA) and Go Negosyo.
A meeting last April among representatives from SEARCA, AFSA and Go Negosyo centered on co-developing a private-sector-driven food security framework that aims to complement ongoing government efforts in agribusiness and trade relevant for the countries comprising the Southeast Asia.
The SEARCA delegation was led by its director Mercedita Sombilla and included Rico Ancog, Special Assistant to the Director; Sharon Malaiba, Unit Head for Partnerships; and Loise Ann Carandang, Senior Associate for Communications.
During the meeting, William Dar, AFSA Senior Adviser, and Julio Matti, Go Negosyo Programs Development Officer, briefed SEARCA on the Kapatid Angat Lahat Agri Program (KALAP), an initiative of Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, who also sits on the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. AFSA is a legacy project under the ASEAN BAC Philippines.
Matti said that since its launch in 2016, KALAP has been bridging the gap between big industry players and smallholder farmers in the Philippines through strategic partnerships.
According to SEARCA, the proposed collaboration aligns with SEARCA's thrust to "undertake programs that address agricultural challenges in the region and foster academe-industry-government (AIG) partnerships to create sustainable and inclusive interventions for farmers and farmer groups."
Highlighting that SEARCA's extensive research on Southeast Asian food security standards and protocols could provide valuable insights for shaping the framework, Sombilla also emphasized the importance of close collaboration between SEARCA and AFSA in finalizing the concept note that will define the framework and strategies.
In this joint endeavor with AFSA, SEARCA said the center "leverages its regional network of food security experts and critical research findings from past and ongoing projects to strengthen its role in advancing agricultural transformation and innovation."